Hair curler

ABSTRACT

A hair curler includes a lengthwise handle; a transmission set contained in the handle and having a main driving axle that has one end exposed outside the handle; a rotating sleeve being rotatably mounted around the main driving axle; a first tong and a second tong each having a rear end connected to the rotating sleeve, wherein the first tong has the rear end provided with a lever so that when the lever is pressed, the first tong leaves from the second tong; and a right-rotation button and an left-rotation button being deposited in a front part of a lateral of the handle. Thereby, a user can use his/her single finger to make the tongs rotate in either direction by pressing the right-rotation button or the left-rotation button, or open or close the tongs by pressing the lever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to hair styling tools, and more particularly to a hair curler that curls hair for hairstyling.

2. Description of Related Art

A known hair curling iron typically has a pair of curling tongs and a handle. The curling tongs are provided with a heat generating means so that the when they are heated and rotated, they can shape a lock of hair secured there between and create various hairstyles. For example, an existing hair curling iron as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,045,744 uses control buttons provided on the handle to control the temperature and rotation of the curling tongs, so as to curl hair secured between the curling tongs. When curling the hair, the hair curling iron may be manually rotated to have the angle of the curling tongs changed, thereby creating different hairstyles, without using various shapes of curling irons.

However, in conventional hair curling irons, the rotation activation and direction control are independently controlled by different controllers, and therefore cannot be conveniently controlled by a user's single finger. In addition, those existing hair curling irons with a gun-like handle, such as the hair curling iron of U.S. Pat. No. 7,045,744, are disadvantageous for they are bulky and thus less manageable, and are structurally complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a hair curler, which allows a user to use a single finger to perform rotation activation and direction control of its curling tongs conveniently in a single operation or open or close of the tongs.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a hair curler that is compact, easy to operate and structurally simple.

To these ends, the hair curler of the present invention comprises a handle being approximately lengthwise; a transmission set having a motor, a handle being approximately lengthwise; a transmission set having a motor, a reduction device and a main driving axle, the motor and the reduction device being contained in the handle, the reduction device being connected to a drive shaft of the motor, and the main driving axle having one end connected to the reduction device and an opposite end exposed outside the handle; a rotating sleeve being rotatably mounted on a front end of the handle and connected to the end of the main driving axle exposed outside the handle, so that the rotating sleeve is driven by the main driving axle to rotate on a major axis of the handle; a pair of tongs including a first tong and a second tong, the second tong having a rear end connected to the rotating sleeve, the first tong having a rear end pivotally connected to the rotating sleeve, each of the first tong and the second tong having a heater, and the first tong having the rear end thereof provided with a lever that extends outward and backward from the rear end of the first tong, so that when pressed, the lever makes the first tong swing outward and leave from the second tong; an elastic member having one end abutting against the lever and an opposite end abutting against the rotating sleeve, and being enable to deform and store a restoring force when pressed; a control circuit being contained in the handle and electrically connected to the motor and the heaters; a right-rotation button and a left-rotation button being deposited in a front part of a lateral of the handle and electrically connected to the control circuit, and the right-rotation button being located at a right side of the major axis of the handle while the left-rotation button is located at a left side of the major axis of the handle; and a power supply unit being contained in the handle and electrically connected to the control circuit.

Thereby, a user holding the handle with his/her single hand may use his/her thumb or forefinger to perform rotation activation and direction control of the curling tongs in a single operation or open or close the tongs, and use his/her the other hand to control the temperatures of the tongs. Compared to the prior-art devices, the present invention is compact, easy to operate and structurally simple.

Further, the present invention comprises a temperature-raising button and a temperature-lowering button that are deposited on the handle and electrically connected to the control circuit for controlling the temperatures of the two heaters.

Further, the handle has a hanging hook deposited in a front part of a lateral of the handle that is opposite to the lateral having the right-rotation button and the left-rotation button. By the hanging hook, the curler can be positioned on a base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair curler according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the hair curler;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the hair curler;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hair curler taken along Line 3-3 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4, showing that the first tong and the second tong are open;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the hair curler, for clearing showing the hanging hook; and

FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the hair curler, showing the hair curler is placed on a base with the hanging hook hooking the higher end of the base, thereby preventing the hair curler from accidentally moving.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a hair curler 10 comprises a handle 11, a transmission set 21, a rotating sleeve 31, a pair of tongs 41, 42, an elastic member 51, a control circuit 61, a right-rotation button 71, a left-rotation button 72 and a power supply unit 81.

The handle 11 is approximately lengthwise.

The transmission set 21 has a motor 22, a reduction device 23 and a main driving axle 24. The motor 22 and the reduction device 23 are contained in the handle 11. The reduction device 23 is connected to a drive shaft of the motor 22. The main driving axle 24 has one end connected to the reduction device 23 and an opposite end exposed outside the handle 11.

The rotating sleeve 31 is rotatably mounted on a front end of the handle 11 and connected to the part of main driving axle 24 exposed outside the handle 11, so as to be driven by the main driving axle 24 to rotate on a major axis of the handle 11.

The pair of tongs 41, 42 includes a first tong 41 and a second tong 42. The second tong 42 has a rear end inserted into the rotating sleeve 31, and the first tong 41 has a rear end pivotally coupled to the rotating sleeve 31. Furthermore, the first tong 41 and the second tong 42 each have a heater 43, 44. A lever 45 is attached to the rear end of the first tong 41 by extending backward and outward from the rear end of the first tong 41. When pressed, the lever 45 makes the first tong 41 swing outward and leave from the second tong 42. In the present embodiment, the lever 45 has a curved shape with its curved surface protruding outward and formed with a toothed structure 46. Moreover, the first tong 41 and the second tong 42 each have a flat surface 411 or 421 (as shown in FIG. 5) so that the tongs 41, 42 closely contact each other with the two flat surfaces 411, 421.

The elastic member 51 has one end abutting against the lever 45 and an opposite end abutting against the rotating sleeve 31. The elastic member 51 is able to deform under pressure and restore when released. In the present embodiment, the elastic member 51 is a spring. The lever 45 and the rotating sleeve 31 each have a guiding post 451 or 311. The two guiding posts 451, 311 are aligned with each other so that the spring 51 has its two ends mounted around the two guiding posts 451, 311 and thereby abutting against the lever 45 and the rotating sleeve 31, respectively.

The control circuit 61 is contained in the handle 11 and electrically connected to the motor 22 and the heaters 43, 44.

The right-rotation button 71 and the left-rotation button 72 are deposited in a front part of lateral of the handle 11, and are electrically connected to the control circuit 61. The right-rotation button 71 is located at the right side of the major axis of the handle 11 while the left-rotation button 72 is located at the left side of the major axis of the handle 11.

The power supply unit 81 is contained in the handle 11 and is electrically connected to the control circuit 61.

In the present embodiment, the hair curler 10 further comprises a temperature-raising button 91 and a temperature-lowering button 92, both located at a rear surface of the handle 11 and are electrically connected to the control circuit 61 for raising or lowering the temperatures of the heaters 43, 44, respectively. Additionally, the handle 11 is equipped with a hanging hook 101. The hanging hook 101 is located at a front part of a lateral of the handle 11 that is opposite to the lateral having the right-rotation button 71 and the left-rotation button 72.

The operation of the inventive device will be described in detail by referring to the foregoing embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, when the hair curler 10 having the power supply unit 81 connected to a mains power is turned on, by pressing the temperature-raising button 91 or the temperature-lowering button 92 at the rear end of the handle 11, a signal will be transmitted to the control circuit 61 and direct the control circuit 61 to control the heating power of the two heaters 43, 44, thereby setting the tongs 41, 42 at the desired temperature.

Afterward, by pressing the lever 45 via a single finger, the tongs 41, 42 are opened (as shown in FIG. 5). At this time, the elastic member deforms in response to the outward swinging of the first tong (or the downward pressing of the lever) and stores a restoring force. Then after a lock of hair is placed between the tongs 41, 42 and the lever 45 is released, the restoring force of the elastic member 51 can return the lever 45 and the first tong 41 to their original positions, thereby closing the tongs 41, 42 and securing the hair. The preparation of hairstyling is thus accomplished.

During hairstyling, the hair curler 10 may be pulled down along the hair stream to straighten the hair. Particularly, after the tongs 41, 42 secure the hair, a user may hold the handle 11 to move the hair curler 10 from the hair root toward the hair tip, thereby straighten the hair.

Alternatively, a user may simply hold the handle 11 in one hand and press the right-rotation button 71 or the left-rotation button 72 with his/her thumb or forefinger, so as to make the tongs 41, 42 on the rotating sleeve 31 to perform a right or left rotation with respect to the major axis of the handle 11, without using additional controllers to control the rotation directions. By rotating the tongs 41, 42 during hairstyling, the hair can be curled.

During hairstyling, a user may hold the handle 11 in one hand and press the lever 45 with his/her thumb or forefinger, so as to release the hair from the tongs 41, 42. Then the user can move the hair curler 10 to a predetermined location and press and release the lever 45 gain to secure the hair again. By repeating such operation, the hair can be discontinuously curled. On the other hand, the user may use his/her free hand, i.e. the one not holding the handle 11, to press the temperature-raising button 91 or the temperature-lowering button 92 and change the temperatures of the tongs 41, 42. Thereby, a user may hold the handle 11 by a hand and use a single finger to activate and determine the direction of the rotation of the tongs 41, 42, or use the same single finger to open or close the tongs 41, 42, while using his/her the other hand the control the temperatures of the tongs 41, 42. Thus, the disclosed hair curler 10 may be operated conveniently to provide various functions, thereby helping its user to create various hairstyles promptly and easily.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the hair curler 10 may be placed on a base 5, so that the hanging hook 101 in the front part of the handle 11 can hook the higher end of the base 5, so as to prevent the hair curler 10 from contacting and burning the tabletop or prevent the hair curler 10 from rolling on the table top. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair curler comprising: a handle being approximately lengthwise; a transmission set having a motor, a reduction device and a main driving axle, the motor and the reduction device being contained in the handle, the reduction device being connected to a drive shaft of the motor, and the main driving axle having one end connected to the reduction device and an opposite end exposed outside the handle; a rotating sleeve being rotatably mounted on a front end of the handle and connected to the end of the main driving axle exposed outside the handle, so that the rotating sleeve is driven by the main driving axle to rotate on a major axis of the handle; a pair of tongs including a first tong and a second tong, the second tong having a rear end connected to the rotating sleeve, the first tong having a rear end pivotally connected to the rotating sleeve, each of the first tong and the second tong having a heater, and the first tong having the rear end thereof provided with a lever that extends outward and backward from the rear end of the first tong, so that when pressed, the lever makes the first tong swing outward and leave from the second tong; an elastic member having one end abutting against the lever and an opposite end abutting against the rotating sleeve, and being enable to deform and store a restoring force when pressed; a control circuit being contained in the handle and electrically connected to the motor and the heaters; a right-rotation button and a left-rotation button being deposited in a front part of a lateral of the handle and electrically connected to the control circuit, and the right-rotation button being located at a right side of the major axis of the handle while the left-rotation button is located at a left side of the major axis of the handle; and a power supply unit being contained in the handle and electrically connected to the control circuit.
 2. The hair curler of claim 1, further comprising a temperature-raising button and a temperature-lowering button that are deposited on the handle and electrically connected to the control circuit for controlling temperatures of the two heaters.
 3. The hair curler of claim 1, wherein the handle has a hanging hook deposited in a front part of a lateral of the handle opposite to the lateral having the right-rotation button and the left-rotation button.
 4. The hair curler of claim 1, wherein each of the first tong and the second tong has a flat surface so that the tongs closely contact each other with the two flat surfaces.
 5. The hair curler of claim 1, wherein the lever has a curved shape that has a curved surface protruding outward and formed with a toothed structure.
 6. The hair curler of claim 1, wherein the lever and the rotating sleeve each have a guiding post aligned with each other, while the elastic member is a spring having two ends thereof mounted around the guiding posts and thereby abutting against the lever and the rotating sleeve, respectively.
 7. The hair curler of claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is connected to a mains power. 